In the current job environment, chances are that when you find your ideal job, you will be competing neck and neck with one or two other candidates for that coveted position.  Imagine, you and your competition have equally impressive qualifications and experience, you all do well in the interview, and you all are a good fit for the company.  So, how do you get the advantage and take the lead in the job race?  One way is to draw positive attention to yourself by attending to the little things that others often ignore.  Here are a few suggestions:

1.    Wear a suit to the interview. Now that business casual has become commonplace, some career experts will tell you to sit in the parking lot of the company, observe how the employees dress, and dress slightly better than they do for your interview.  I disagree.  Wearing a suit to the interview shows that you respect the interviewer and that you are a professional who takes the job search seriously.  (Note:  Before you put on that suit that has been hanging in the back of your closet for years, make sure the suit is currently in style, that it fits you well, and that it is in excellent condition.)

2.    Send a handwritten thank you note*. If you want to send a thank you note by email immediately following the interview, that is perfectly acceptable.  Make sure you touch on one or two things that came up during the interview and try to provide an additional brief story that you didn’t have a chance to bring up during the interview that reinforces your value proposition.  But don’t stop there.  Sending a handwritten thank you note within 24 hours is another opportunity for you to get your name in front of the interviewer.  Additionally, making the effort to write a second note and getting it mailed shows that you are willing to go the extra mile.  Be sure to send separate notes to each interviewer.

3.    Follow up. At the end of the interview, ask when you should expect to hear something.  If you haven’t heard anything by that time, follow up with the interviewer.  Don’t be a pest, but follow up often enough to let the employer know that you are still interested in the job.

These tips alone are not enough to secure a job offer, but when the decision between candidates is close, sweating the small stuff may be just enough to put you over the top.

*If the company is “green,” send only electronic thank you notes.

YES! You just got the call and the interview is scheduled for tomorrow.  This is what you have been waiting for.  But, are you ready?  The most successful job seekers, the ones who find the best jobs the fastest, know three things.  (1)  They know exactly what they want in their next job.  (2)  They know what they have to offer the employer that differentiates them from the competition.  (3)  They know their value.  Preparation is the key to a successful interview.  When you are prepared, you will be confident and self-assured, which makes you very appealing to the interviewer.  Here is a list of questions to help you prepare.  If you have clear, strong answers to these questions, you are well on your way to acing the interview.

1. Do you know exactly what type of job is right for you? If they ask you, what will you say?

2. What do you have to offer the company that is uniquely you and that is different from your competitors?

3. What is your branding statement and how will you use it during the interview?

4. What is your value proposition and how will you incorporate it into the interview?

5. What are the three to five attributes you bring to the job that you will emphasize throughout the interview?

6. Do you have accomplishment stories for each of the attributes you identified in Question No. 5?

7. Have you prepared answers for the most commonly asked interview questions?

a. Are your prepared answers each 60 seconds or less?

b. Are your answers succinct and to the point?

c. Do they incorporate your three to five attributes?

d. Do you include stories?

8. Are you prepared to answer any questions that might be raised from your resume?

9. Have you thoroughly researched the company?

10. Have you researched the hiring manager and others in the company?

11. Do you have a list of questions you want to ask during the interview?

a. Do those questions show your curiosity and interest in ensuring the company, the job, and the manager are the right fit for you?

b. If asked, can you explain why you are asking each question and what answer you are looking for? For example, if you ask about the company culture, can you explain what type of culture you prefer?

12. Are you comfortable with silence?

13. Can you stay on message and not say more than necessary?

14. Do you have the proper clothes ready?

15. Will you remember to sit up straight, lean forward to show interest, maintain good eye contact, and smile?

16. Will you remember to listen carefully to what they tell you they are looking for and incorporate their description into your answers?

17. Can you keep the interview conversational, asking the interviewer(s) questions as you go along?

18. Do you have your research documentation, additional copies of your resume, your reference letters, your portfolio, and anything else you want to take with you to the interview neatly organized and ready to go?

19. Is there any reason they wouldn’t hire you? If so, resolve the issue and overcome any objections.

Now, you’re ready. Best of luck!

Would your job search be different if you thought of yourself as self-employed?  I often talk with job seekers who perceive employers as having the upper hand and holding the power in the employer-employee relationship.  These job seekers seem to think they have to convince the employer they are worthy of being hired.  They are not nearly as discriminating about the employers they will work for as the employers are about whom they will hire.  When it comes to salary, they tend to think more in terms of getting as close to their previous salary as possible rather than thinking in terms of their market value.

So, how does the mindset of these employees differ from the mindset of someone who is self-employed?  Here are a few descriptors of those that tend to think of themselves as employees:

1.    They are applying for jobs they aren’t sure they’re qualified for but think they could learn if given the chance.  Or they are applying for jobs they know they are overqualified for.  They have thoughts, such as, I could do that or That would be an okay job.

2.    They aren’t familiar with the industry but are willing to learn it if they are hired.

3.    They need a job and/or benefits.  Although they won’t accept just anything, they aren’t too concerned about the specifics of the job and the company.

Here are some descriptors of someone who is self-employed:

1.    They know their qualifications and the benefits they have to offer their clients.  They have to know or their clients won’t buy.

2.    Even if they don’t know their clients’ industry, they know their clients’ needs and can clearly articulate how their skills and talents will fit and meet those needs regardless of the industry.

3.    They stay at the top of their game and seek out clients who will value their contributions.

Employment is – or at least should be – a partnership.  Employment is an exchange of value.  The employee contributes a service in exchange for pay.  The employer needs a high performing, reliable employee as much as the employee needs a salary and benefits.  Both parties have a lot at stake.

I encourage all employees to adopt the mindset of the self-employed.  Know and be confident in your abilities and the value you have to offer.  Know how your skills, talents, and experience will benefit the employer and be ready to tell them.  Choose your employer wisely, make sure they are worthy of your time, dedication, and hard work.

If you approach your job search with the mindset of someone who is self-employed, your résumé and cover letter will become marketing materials describing the benefits of your services for your potential client (the employer).  Your interviews become exchanges of information between equals looking for the right fit.  Your salary negotiation becomes a discussion about your true market value and return on investment.

Approach employers as a potential business partner.  Come to the table fully prepared to meet the employer’s needs and know what your services are worth.  This will accomplish a win-win situation for you both and a much happier future career.

An informational interview is just as it sounds–it is an interview to gain information.  However, you never know where an informational interview might lead.  The entrance to the hidden job market is through the informational interview.  You may come across jobs that haven’t been posted; or you may hit it off so well with them that they will offer you your choice of positions, which actually happened to someone I was speaking with the other day.

Here are a few quick tips for conducting an informational interview.

1.    Conduct yourself with the same professionalism as you would a job interview and follow the same protocol (e.g., proper dress, thank you notes, etc).

2.    You are leading the informational interview so do your research and go in thoroughly prepared with your questions.

3.    Know what your goal is.  Finding a job is a process, so don’t go in expecting to find a job with each informational interview.  Before you go in, ask yourself what one piece of information can you get from this person that will be most beneficial to move you forward to the next step in your job search process.  For example, you may simply want information about the company to determine if you would like to work there.  You might want to get the name of the person within the company who would hire someone like you so you can talk to that person next.  You might want to know what opportunities are available in the marketplace for someone with your interests and experience.

4.    Informational interviews should only be 20 to 30 minutes long.  Respect the person’s time and make sure you conclude the interview when your time is up.

5.    When you go to your interview, ask the person about their job and ask questions about the company.  You don’t need to ask for a job, it is understood that you want a job.  Give them your branding statement and your value proposition and then ask the person for their advice.  Ask them what they would suggest you do and who they would suggest you talk to to find a position where you can contribute your unique talents and skills.

6.    After the interview, continue to build a relationship with the person.  Try to find something to give back to the person (e.g., send another thank you note after you follow up on one of their suggestions or after you meet with a contact they gave you; or send an article of interest).

7.    Relax, enjoy yourself, and realize that you are creating valuable business relationships that may serve you for years to come.

Reminder:  Perfect-fit Workshops start April 19!  Take your job search to the next level and land your dream job.  Register now at http://www.occupationalzen.com/program-enrollment.html

One of the most frequently asked interview questions, and often the first question asked, is “Tell me about yourself.” What a gift this question is!  This is your opportunity to set the tone for the entire interview and lead the interviewer to playing in your court.  Unfortunately, most applicants answer this question by simply reiterating what is contained in their résumé or they get into personal information that is totally irrelevant.  Before I tell you how to take full advantage of this question, let me explain from a scientific perspective how this can work for you.

Psychologists have identified a phenomenon they refer to as “priming.”  Priming is when exposure to a stimulus influences the subsequent response.  There are numerous studies that support the effects of priming, but I would like to share one of the more amusing studies with you.  Researchers brought college student participants into the lab.  One group received a list of words to review that were consistent with the stereotype of an elderly person.  The control group reviewed a list of random words.  As the participants left the laboratory, researchers measured how fast they walked to the elevator.  Participants who had reviewed the elderly stereotype words walked significantly more slowly to the elevator than the control group participants.  Thus, providing support for the effects of priming.

How can you take advantage of priming?  When the interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself,” you respond with your carefully-prepared-but-natural-sounding marketing message that describes the benefits you have to offer.  Follow these tips when preparing your answer:

1.    Be brief (about 60 seconds).
2.    Use keywords from the job description or from your research on the company.
3.    Describe your top three strengths that are most pertinent to the needs of the company (needs discovered during your research).
4.    Include a description of an accomplishment or two as an illustration of your strengths and how they will benefit the company (your value proposition).
5.    Keep your message consistent with the branding message you have used in your résumé, cover letter, and social media profiles (consistency makes you memorable).
6.    Let your passion for the work show through.
7.    Use a story (stories are memorable).

When you bring together the employer’s keywords with your talents and value proposition and put it into a story, you will capture the interviewer’s attention and prime a framework for the interview around your personal brand.  Be sure to thoroughly prepare so you can stay on message throughout the questioning and maintain the priming and your advantage.

Here is an example of how an engineer might answer the question from the book 60 Seconds & You’re Hired! By Robin Ryan:

“For my last employer I implemented a new quality-assurance program for seven plants over a four-year period.  We received the Q 1 Award for our efforts.  Along the way, I’ve learned to effectively deal with employee resistance to quality improvements through training, selling teamwork concepts, and utilizing a personal empowerment approach.  I have evaluated 37 suppliers during on-site inspections to improve the quality of their product—parts that will ultimately become pieces of my company’s final product.  My five years in design engineering and my strong communication skills have aided me in my ability to work with a diverse population and solve technical problems.  These are the reasons I feel I would make a valuable contribution to your company.”

A reader writes:

I have been hearing a lot of talk about sending handwritten thank you notes versus email notes following an interview.  I have been sending email notes only.  What do you recommend?

My reply:

There is not one right answer to this question except that a thank you note must be sent and it needs to be sent within 24 hours of the interview.  The advantages of an email are (1) it gets there quickly; (2) it is typed, which is ideal for those that are handwriting challenged; and (3) there is more space to reiterate the benefits you will bring to the position.

The advantages of the handwritten thank you note are (1) you may be the only applicant that sends one, which will make you stand out from the crowd; (2) it shows extra effort on your part; and (3) an email is often quickly deleted but a card may stay on the hiring manager’s desk as a constant reminder of you.

My suggestion would be to take full advantage by doing both.  Show them you’re an overachiever and get your name back in front of them twice.  The email will get to the hiring manager the same day and the handwritten note will get there the next day or two.  (If you interview with more than one person, send separate notes to each of them.)

If you have a job search question, I would love to answer it in my blog.  Please submit your question to askterry@occupationalzen.com and look for your answer here.

A reader writes:

I was recently contacted by an out of state recruiter about my resume for a position. We had a great phone conversation and they said they are sending my information to the next level for review. Are there any tips you can give to help make it to an in person interview when a recruiter passes your resume to the next level?

My reply:

There are a few different things you can do.  Recruiters look good when they present top-quality candidates.  To help your recruiter advocate on your behalf, you might want to send him/her some additional information that demonstrates your fit for the position.  For example, from your research or your conversation with the recruiter, you may have identified a particular need that you can address with an accomplishment story from your past experience.  You can write up your story and email it to the recruiter.  You can ask the recruiter if there is anything else you can provide to help him/her “sell” you to the hiring manager.

Another way to increase the likelihood of an interview is to find someone internally that can refer you to the hiring manager.  This technique always increases your chances of an interview.  You may have to get creative about finding internal contacts.  Use the Internet and social media to find people who work for the company and then look for a common connection, such as college, shared membership in an organization, a LinkedIn connection, etc.  Find an email address and ask them some questions about the company to establish a relationship, and then ask if they would be willing to pass along your résumé.

The third suggestion is to contact the hiring manager directly.  Again, you may have to get creative with your detective work to identify the hiring manager, but it can be done.  It may be a simple as calling the company and asking who is hiring for the position, or you may have to dig further.  Best of luck!

Other suggestions?